The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-11-16
A Dispassionate View Of the Farmers
NoYeuent by StraightOut Farmer.

Ms. EDITOR: In the few remarks made IN
the farmers meeting of the 7th ult., I have
been accused of throwing a damper on the
movement in the county. Be it so. have
no apology to make, nor one word to retrac:.
I believed, and still believe, that the speech
of the president voiced the sentiment of the
meeting, and when nominated as delegate
to the State convention I declined on the
ground that I was not in full accord With
what I conceived to be the wishes Of the
meeting and therefore would not accepta
trust that could not conscienhously fill.
Among other things I remarked that was
opposed. to taking the appointment Of the
Board of Agriculture ont of the hands OF the
Legislature and giving it to this irresponsi-
Bile, unsworn body, camping outside Of the
c institution and composed OF delegates cho
sen perhaps, in every other county as in this,
by about twenty farmers. One OF the arSu
rnents used in favor of this change, is that
the Board viii be more III sympathy with
the farmers and meet with convention OF
farmers each year I venture tue assertion
that the present Board, being intelligent
gentlemen, and recognizing the fact that
they are the servants of the people, if asked
in a respectful manner, will meet with the
farmers and take pleasure in giving them
all the information desired. Again it is as
serted that the present commissioner is
monarch with unlimited power. Who is re-
sponsible for that? The commissioner did
not make the laws-the Legislature is res
ponsible. But admit that the law is imper-
feet and the commission monarch. Will
not the same laws govern commission ap-
pointed by the farlners2
The whole thing is phantom, a deluslon
to catch the unthinking and perhaps to get
some one else into Office.
Then again as to the much talked Of farm
ers college: have never opposed the COL
lege if the farmers think they are able to
support it;at the same time, I can't heartily
endorse it. To be candid, don't think the
game worth the powder"
Just here, Mr.. Editor, I took occasion to
remark on the oft repeated and to some at
least, humiliating tale, that the farmers are
'.hewers of wood and drawers of water. y
Like the "Bloody Shirt" of the North fear
vaunted too often to arouse the predjudlce.
If hewers of wood and drawers of water, 1t
is an individual act, for there is no law that
can compel any one to give an agricultural
lien except that of necessity. An, says be,
but my necessities are taken advantage
of. Perhaps so. The remedy then for tue
evil of which you complain does not lie in
legislation, nor is it to be found in revolu-
ton. It rests more on individual action
than in anything else. Establish your cred
it, make your word your bond; then, instead
of your begging for credit your trade will be
sought after and inducements offered you.
IF the farmers of Clarendon expect by legis-
lation through an association of Farmers to
remedy the evil Of which they complain I
venture the assertion that the millennium
of their existence will come before the rem
edy.
They may establish the college; place
farmers Of their own choice in the Agricul-
tural Department.; establish experimental
stations in every county; and stock the halls
of legislation with farmers; even that will
not remedy the evil. The main thing is in
dividual work at home.
Quit this wholesale abuse of the lawyer,
the doctor, the merchant, ETC., look the facts
squarely in the face aad place the responsi-
bility where it belongs.
Mr. Editor: I have already trespassed
too much on your space.
Respectfully,
j. A. MuLs
Nov 14th 1887